Rejoice Wonderful Women! It is Wednesday,
We made it to that crucial point in the week. It is moved far enough away from last week that we can safely review what happened and it is snugly positioned to allow us a look ahead just a little. Look at the ground you covered it is only because God kept you. Looking forward you realize there is a lot of ground to cover and you wonder how in the world will I finish my “to do” list. It will happen only because God will give you the strength and the wisdom to accomplish the tasks. It is in that only because moment that you are able to celebrate!
Only, it is one of those words that must be used carefully because it can be used to diminish and trivialize people and or their life events. It is a word that should be used with caution when you talk to people. Only will escalate conversations into arguments, it can divide. It can be used as a weapon to control and manipulate. Yet, it is also a word of recognition as in only You Father, You alone. According to the Free Dictionary it can suggest ranking as in being superior and excellent. The word only can suggest position as in one of a kind, sole. It is a powerful word.
Recently as I listened to the Praise and Worship team sing about some of the only because situations in our lives I realized that if we did not have some only situations happen we could not appreciate who really is the only One (supreme, above all others) who can move the mountains in life. If it were not for the only-s we would not be able to appreciate who we are today. We would undervalue His only begotten son reducing His sacrifice to that little (another dangerous word) thing he did one day on a hill. We would not understand the power of only as it relates to the plan God has for us.
Think about some of the “if only” moments in your journey; were they answered with an only response? I know; you are looking at the screen wondering where this is going. When you said “if only I had one person I could trust with my truth” Your Dad heard your cry, He called you into prayer. There you could be as open and raw as you needed to be to share your heart and mind. Later, He sent someone to begin to walk with you without judgement. On the other side of the only situation you may have said “she was the only one who would tell me the truth”. That truth helped you grow, it may not have felt like growth at the time but it came from a place of love to help you.
I was the only one brave enough to ask. Your question asked in the right way may have helped others who could not find their voice to ask. What about the times you could not express your need? After the third of fourth denial did you think “if only I could get someone to hear me” but you took a deep breath explained the situation one more time. Expecting to hear “I’m sorry there is nothing I can do.” You broke down in tears when you realized the answer was “Yes, I can help you, no problem”. Whenever you think of that person it often ends with he was the only one who would help me. Because that person extended a hand with their palm up, you were able to pull yourself up and out of a tight place.
We are best friends because she was the only one who accepted me when I was not so acceptable, not so lovable. Because someone took the time to look past the obvious to see more, you were able to connect. That friend stood by you encouraging you with love and patience celebrating every milestone of healing until you could stand on your own. You came out of it without a reminder of what you went through. That smile in your eyes and the joy you have does not tell the real story on your face and as trusted friends, been through something sisters do, she does not remind you of what you went through.
Our only moments happened, some good, some not so good but they happened only to make us stronger, wiser. Wonderful Women take a few minutes to appreciate something about you. Celebrate the fact that God does indeed have a purpose and plan for your life. Your only times have not been in vain because He has an assignment that only you can do. Encourage another Wonderful Woman; celebrate with her as only sisters can do.
It’s all ‘bout love,
Trudy
Copyright 2000 Trudy G Doleman